Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-08-03
LEARNING WITHOUT lNDERSTANDI


All arguing and putting forth Of
plans and harping upon generaliticS
must, 1t would seem, pertOrce be re-
ducrd to thiS:--Our reading, our
study-tor the two should be synOny-
mOuS-Should be divided into pc
riOd>; during the first we are under
tutrlagr and must read WHAT set be-
fore lis and lay down the foundations
for our great and real work. During
this period, say some, and we cor
daily agree with them, we must i'm
bibc much knowledge without at the
time being able to distinctly under
stand all that we learn. Indeed,
with our present system OfcduCation,
this must assume great proportions,
Tor we cannot expect every school
master to form such Il grammar of
boys' As that which is so ably and
wittily advocated by Thomas Fuller
in his portrait Of the good school
naStcr-numbcrS, and that precious
commodity, time, is against it. Ca
rarlty cannot be accurately gauged.
Vet the curriculum must he got
through. In Il good private educa-
ton i more rational and reasoning
method Of teaching is practicable.
sui, there is always Il certain time
for which, and there are many sub
jrctS which Il child must learn par
r"t-Wl>c, whatever system of cduca-
ton be adopted. Between this stage
and the second there is Il transient
state, probably the most important
of all, when the young man is feeling
his way al q cndcavoring to walk
alone; here and now a careful guild
ing hand, neither too strict nor too
easy, will be of immense value, for
the taste Is now being informed, and,
perhaps, the whole future career de-
pcndS upon tn" direction in which the
taste of the disciple is led and con-
tirmcd. \ good man or woman is Il
sufficient guide Turing the prelmi-
nary stage; Il very wise man is ne
ccSSary during the second. For, from
this transient stage we emerge into
manhood, when we must choose for
ourselves, and according to our ca
pacity and the constitution of our
mind. We may d0 too little or too
much, read wisely or foolshly, for
the steering of our course isa difficult
matter, and the success of our voyage
through the shoals and quicksands of
literature depends greatly upon our
primary and secondary instruction
or training. What is absolutely GER
tain Is, that h" who allows his mind
to lie talloW-uncmployed in rational
reflections, is gricvOlisly at fault.
We cannot all BE- very wise, great
philosophers and sagcS, but we can
and should lay ina certain loading Of
learning and wisdom, and it concerns
us vitality to ascertain our capacity,
and forthwith fall to work and gath
cr in our lading. The mind, if work.
ed when in "tluid St;itc"-as Thorn
rs tarlyleput it, when addressing the
students Of Edinburg University
becomes elastic, and we can do more
and more work and soon find out that
each day brings its lessons and en-
larges our capacity for receiving
them.
IN THE HANDS or TIE JURY.-
The demand for Il more rigorous en-
f0rccmcnt of the law against murder
Is imperative in South Carolina.
1t has come to be not only question
Of protecting human life, but it is
more than that; it is a question
whether our civilization shall be
protected. 1t cannot be unless hui
man life is held sacred by the law
and by those charged with its en-
fOrccment.
There are cases of Sclf-dcfenSe, as
all know, where Il man kills another
in defending his own life. But out
OF the alarmingly large number of
homicidcs that have occurred recent
~ within the state, it would be most
remarkable if the right man was
always killed.
The enforcement of the law is in
the hands Of the jurors. Their power
is unlimited. They are under no
responsibility except to their own
conscicnccS. y newspaper can insist
on the enforcement of the law, but it
IS only in the abstract. Jurors and
jurors only can enforce the law in
particular cases. Any attempt by Il
newspaper to influence public Opin-
ion for or against party under the
charge of murder is wrong in princi-
pie and in policy. If against the
accused, the cry Of "persecution"
is raised and that becomes the means
of exciting public opinion in his be-
half. If for the accused, it paves the
way for Il popular ac1uiescence in
Il verdict of acquittal, without regard
to the evidence.
1t is the duty Of the press, as it is
the duty Of the pulpit and Of public
men, to take their stand on the side
of law and order and to use their in
tluencc against lawlessnessand crime.
But the whole matter rests ut last in
the hands Of fjurorS, and unless they
do their duty without fear or favor
the law becomes farce and human
life becomes Of no more consequence
than the life Of a beast.-.NeWberry
WS'rr,r.
SrFFEElNG.-ThO> OF Us who
have lost little children feel Il